Artificial turf yarn

Abstract

Provided is an artificial turf yarn having improved heat resistance, durability, softness and extensibility. The artificial turf yarn contains two components: an olefin block copolymer (OBC) and a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). The yarn includes from about 10 wt % to about 80 wt % of the OBC and from about 20 wt % to about 90 wt % of the LLDPE which produces an artificial turf yarn with improved softness and toughness while maintaining heat resistance.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An artificial turf yarn comprising:
 from about 10 wt % to about 80 wt % of an olefin block copolymer (OBC) having a density from about 0.866 g/cc to less than 0.900 g/cc and from about 20 wt % to about 90 wt % of a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) having a density from 0.910 g/cc to 0.935 g/cc, the yarn having a shrinkage less than 8%. 
 
     
     
       2. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 1  having a tenacity greater than about 0.7 cN/dtex. 
     
     
       3. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 1  having an elongation at failure greater than about 80%. 
     
     
       4. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the OBC has a melt index from about 0.5 g/10 min to about 5 g/10 min as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 190° C./2.16 kg. 
     
     
       5. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the LLDPE has a melt index from about 0.5 g/10 min to about 10 g/10 min as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 190° C./2.16 kg. 
     
     
       6. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the yarn comprises from about 20 wt % to about 50 wt % of the OBC and from about 50 wt % to about 80 wt % of the LLDPE. 
     
     
       7. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the yarn has a density from about 0.905 g/cc to about 0.940 g/cc and a shrinkage less than 6%. 
     
     
       8. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the yarn has a melt index from about 1 g/10 min to about 5 g/10 min as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 190° C./2.16 kg. 
     
     
       9. An artificial turf yarn comprising:
 from about 10 wt % to about 80 wt % of an olefin block copolymer (OBC) having a density from about 0.866 g/cc to less than 0.900 g/cc and from about 20 wt % to about 90 wt % of a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) having a density from 0.910 g/cc to 0.935 g/cc, the yarn having a density less than 0.920 g/cc and a shrinkage less than 6%. 
 
     
     
       10. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 9 , wherein the OBC has a density from about 0.866 g/cc to about 0.887 g/cc. 
     
     
       11. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 9 , wherein the LLDPE has a density of 0.935 g/cc. 
     
     
       12. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 9 , wherein the OBC has a melt index from about 0.5 g/10 min to about 5 g/10 as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 190° C./2.16 kg. 
     
     
       13. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 9 , wherein the LLDPE has a melt index from about 0.5 g/10 min to about 10 g/10 min as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 190° C./2.16 kg. 
     
     
       14. An artificial turf comprising:
 a backing substrate; and 
 a yarn coupled to the backing substrate, the yarn comprising from about 10 wt % to about 80 wt % of an olefin block copolymer (OBC) having a density from about 0.866 g/cc to less than 0.900 g/cc and from about 20 wt % to about 90 wt % of a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) having a density from 0.910 g/cc to 0.935 g/cc. 
 
     
     
       15. The artificial turf of  claim 14 , wherein the OBC has a density from about 0.866 g/cc to about 0.887 g/cc. 
     
     
       16. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the OBC is an ethylene multi-block interpolymer having an ethylene content from 55 wt % to 95 wt %. 
     
     
       17. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 9 , wherein the OBC is an ethylene multi-block interpolymer having an ethylene content from 55 wt % to 95 wt %. 
     
     
       18. The artificial turf yarn of  claim 14 , wherein the OBC is an ethylene multi-block interpolymer having an ethylene content from 55 wt % to 95 wt %.